Mr. Gonzalo Serrano, program manager of the Agencia Español Cooperacion Internacional para El Desarollo (AECID) led the groundbreaking ceremony in Tiwi Albay on June 22, 2011 for its Livelihood and Skills Training Center.

The construction of the Tiwi Livelihood and Skills Training Center is a P3M grant under the Strengthening Local Governments in the Philippines (SLGP) project for Phase III which Tiwi is among the 55 LGU-beneficiaries since it was implemented in 2008. The municipality of Tiwi was among the five LGUs in Bicol which was chosen by the AECID to receive said infrastructure grant based from its exemplary performance during the Phases I and II implementation of the SLGP.

Ms. Joy Juanite, SLGP national program manager, in her message during the groundbreaking ceremony commended LGU Tiwi for its outstanding participation in the SLGP-led activities and for being the first LGU in Region V to do the ground breaking ceremony which is a manifestation of its eagerness to help the people of Tiwi.

Dir. Blandino Maceda on the other hand said that Tiwi is most fortunate having been selected as recipient of the SLGP infrastructure grant. “This is an indication that Tiwi has complied with all the requirements wherein the system of governance is properly aligned with the management structure of the LGU” Dir. Maceda said. He thanked the AECID for approving DILG V’s recommendation to include Tiwi as recipient of said grant because the Tiwi Livelihood and Business Center can serve as a sustainable source of livelihood to eliminate poverty by increasing the income of Filipino families.

Meanwhile Mayor Jaime Villanueva on behalf of the people of Tiwi expressed his gratefulness to AECID and DILG for all the support and all the other projects they have implemented in Tiwi that certainly improved the lives of his constituents. He envisions that the soon-to-rise Tiwi Livelihood and Training Center will extend technical and livelihood skills to the people of Tiwi and other neighboring municipalities who failed to access school due to poverty and are deprived of employment because of limited skills. The Center will accept out-of-school-youths and local folks to help them gain knowledge in developing native products. A Project Management Board will be organized to oversee the operation of the Center to ensure its sustainability and LGU funds will be set aside for its maintenance.

On the part of AECID, Mr. Gonzalo Serranno congratulated LGU Tiwi under the leadership of Mayor Villanueva for having demonstrated commitment to proceed with the project and the Provincial Government of Albay for providing additional funding support. He said that Tiwi has the capacity and legitimate willingness to perform and deliver any kind of development project such as the Tiwi Livelihood and Training Center. “The Center is aligned with the priorities of SLGP on local economic development” Mr. Serrano said.

Mr. Serrano was joined by Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva, DILG Regional Director Blandino M. Maceda, Ms. Joy Juanite, national program manager for SLGP, during the ground breaking ceremony. DILG V Assistant Regional Director Elouisa T. Pastor, members of the Sanggunian Bayan of Tiwi headed by Vice Mayor Climaco, barangay and municipal officials of Tiwi, DILG V personnel witnessed the ceremony.- (AO IV Ma. Grace Joy U. Tango)